HRT: wow! What a difference

[izzy2076]

I have only been on it a month and I honestly feel it's changed my life.

Tinnitus: gone. PMT:gone. Sleep is better and no anxiety. I have a lot on my plate at the moment but feel able to cope. The energy is amazing and I feel almost high. Almost too energised and a bit too 'full on' and slightly manic.

Will the effects start to fall off eventually or am I going to feel this well forever?!

@izzy2076

Sorry I was our windsurfing/salsa dancing/living my best life (not really!)

I'm on oestrogel 2 pumps plus utrogestan. It was honestly like watering a dying plant. Almost immediate too. Had a rocky start with the utrogestan and felt like shit and thought it was over but then peeled up. Honestly. I feel like myself again. I didn't realise I hadn't been myself for a good couple of years before taking this stuff.

Sorry to sound smug as I know it doesn't work for everyone. I honestly felt like I was falling apart but physically and mentally before. I was even taking citalapram for shitty 2 week long PMT when really I should have just started this much sooner.

I've been prescribed Femeston 2/10. Just waiting for it to be delivered. I asked for Oestrogel/Utrogestan combi but the GP advised Femoston (or cyclical HRT in tablet form at any rate) was better as a starting point for a 3 month trial to see if it resolves symptoms (or causes problems). Then we can look at tailoring it depending on how the femoston works. Fingers crossed it works like is has for the posters here!

GP's not keen to prescribe oestrogel. Told me it wasn't on the menopause pathway. I insisted and they prescribed. My feeling is they offer you the cheapest solution and hope that fixes you.

Wish it would sort my tinnitus - but otherwise I’ve had similar good results from oestrogel/utrogestan, Izzy.

That combination is what I’m just about to start, so I’m hopeful

I was on Qlaira now Zoely (supply issues with Qlaira)

And I’m ok. But that’s it. I’m functioning just about

Otherwise I have nightmares, sweats, no libido. Also craving carbs

Will pick up the prescription on Monday so fingers crossed for me too

@HemanOrSheRa I was on femeston for a while, that was good for me but stopped working after a year and there were no supplies to up the doses so they switched me to patches, which were great but they don’t stay on for me

Keep going back until you’re happy

I’ve paid to go to private HRT plce, so hopefully one way or another I’ll get there :)

What works with us is all dependent on the hormonal balance we each have I think so it’s not a one hat fits all

MzHz Thank you! There still seems to be a supply issue for femoston at the moment. I get my prescriptions delivered by Lloyds Direct (was Echo). They have ordered it and are waiting for supplies. I think I have to start taking it on the first day of my cycle (1st day of period), my GP couldn't remember during my phone consultation. So, depending on when that decides to arrive, I've got a week to get it delivered and be ready. It's in stock at an on line pharmacy, so I'll go with that if I have to, though it's over double the cost. I don't care. I will be going private too if I need to. I've found a local clinic which was recommended by several friends.

I hope the Oestrogel/Utrogestan works well for you.

@Aquamarine1029

I've been on HRT for 7 years and it's been nothing short of a miracle from the start. Absolutely amazing.

So it doesn't 'wear off' then?

It's madness how GPs are refusing to even let women at least trial it to see if they respond. I was hesitant for ages due to regular periods, but the fact that I feel so much better means there was a hormone deficiency and you find that out by trying it.

Don’t forget if you have more medicine you take, get a prepayment certificate

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/prescription-prepayment-certificates-ppcs

@HemanOrSheRa if you’re in Hampshire, there’s a really good clinic near me. My friend recommended it, I recommended it to a friend of mine, now I’m going too

My hairdressers friend also goes to it and she’s recommended it to her too.

They have a few branches in south east/London too

Yes it saved my life too.

@HemanOrSheRa I'm on Femiston conti 0.5/2.5 and it's fantastic for me! It's the only one I've tried, been on it for about 5 years now - life changing! Hope it works for you

@izzy2076 I'm a month into oestrogen gel and the progesterone tablet as well and also finding it really helpful. Dryness has been the worst symptom for me so I'm also using a peas called vagisan. Wish I'd started a few years ago. I'm 43. So glad it's working for you too.

@HemanOrSheRa

I'm on oestrogel and utrogestan.

I felt amazing within 3 days of starting the oestrogel (2 pumps). When I got into the utrogestan phase I felt a little less good, but now that I'm on 4 pumps of the oestrogel, it's all great.

I did my research first and asked for this regime (transdermal being lower risk, having had issues tolerating various synthetic forms of progesterone in the past) and the GP was happy(ish) to go with it. He did wish me good luck and told me that he'd had very positive feedback from other patients with this, so he was generally on board with treating perimenopause.

Should have types pessary above not peas !

I have suffered from severe anxiety and constipation for years realised it was hormonal as some parts of my pregnancies my anxiety and constipation would go and then both suddenly come back, I am very interested in hrt but not sure at 34 they would try me, living with anxiety is horrendous! So pleased you've found something to work for you 😀

MzHz I'm not in Hampshire but not so far that I couldn't make the journey. Are they doing video consultations? I looked at booking privately at my closest clinic but, almost unbelievably, the phone consult with my GP was faster! And I had to wait 3 weeks for that!

Psychonabike I did ask for the gel/tablet combo in the e consult form I filled out but the GP I spoke to preferred to give me the tablet combo to try first as a starting point.

alloutofcareunits I glad the femoston conti is working so well for you! 5 years! My sister in law recently started everol conti and felt fantastic within a couple of weeks! It just seems everything I've read - everyone seems to be getting the gel/tablets so it was worrying me slightly. Though to be honest I feel so dreadful I'll try anything right now!

@MzHz I'm on Qlaira too but I know there are supply issues and wondering about switching to Zoely or to HRT. Could I pm you?

@WhereAreWeNow

I’ve done 1 weeks on Zoely and not noticed anything in terms of deterioration- same really, which is a good thing!

Obviously Zoely and qlaira have contraceptive qualities built in, so if you switch to estradiol and otrogestan you’ll need to cover off contraception another way

If I were you, I’d go with Zoely in the mean time and you’ve lost nothing

2 weeks…

If you google The Female Health Clinic - that’s the place I’ve spoken about

Obviously I’m v early on my journey with them, but they seem good, a friend of mine has been seeing them for quite some time and she rates them highly

Do you have to pay for a HRT prescription ?

HRT- yes - was it femoston that was double prescription charge?

Zoely and qlaira are contraceptives so I think they’re free on nhs

I’m on month 2 of sequi
First month was great, but the symptoms are creeping back in. Hot flushes, headaches, the brain fog has never gone away.

I think this means my oestrogen is still too low so will be speaking to GP about it. But at the moment, I’m disappointed.

This is why I intend to stay on HRT indefinitely. Actually I’ve had a number of medications, starting with patches thoughtfully prescribed by a Dutch locum GP - don’t think I’d have had them from my regular GP - when I was 48 and they’ve all helped. Now, 20 years later, on Oestrogel and Mirena.

Remember to check if a nhs prepayment certificate would help you save money?

Of course there are certain treatments available via the private clinic that DO have to be paid for because they’re not available on prescription, but you can ask for your doctor to prescribe the treatment that IS available to be prescribed on the nhs system.